Mail-bag lock



(No Model.)

T. W. IVORY.

' MAIL BAG LOOK.

No. 398,157. I Patented Feb. 19, 1889.

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THEODORE IV. IVORY, OF GLENI VOOD, IOIVA.

MAI L-BAG LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,157, dated February 19, 1889.

Application filed August 28, 1888. Serial No. 283,960. (No model.)

" all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE IV. IVORY,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Glenwood, in the county of Mills and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usef ul Improvements in Mail-Bag Locks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents -a plan view of my improved lock as it appears in a locked position on the mail-pouch. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View of the lock with the bottom or bed plate of the casing removed. Fig. 3 is a view of a key suitable for unlocking the parts. Fig. 4 is a view of the metallic head or hasp. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line X X of Fig. 2. 6 is a detail to be referred to. I

My invention relates to locks for mailpouches; and it consists in the peculiar c011- structions and combinations of devices which I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same, and indicate the manner in which I carry the same out.

In the said drawings, A represents a suitable pouch designed for holding mail matter, and B represents a casing which contains the operative parts of my lock, and is provided with pins a,which project from its lower surfaces and pass through the bottom or bed plate I3, and the material of which the pouch I is constructed, and also through .a thin metallic plate, 1), below the bed-plate, B, and on inside of pouch. This inner plate furnishes a surface on which to rivet or otherwise secure the free ends of the pins a. This inner also give: additional strength and afwe a lrlttional security against the forcible Fem-oval eif the casing from the pouch. A "The innerfsurface of one end of the casing 'iihicitenel and provided with a dovetailed greevac, in which is seated the head Chica o/"ed spring C, the arms (2 of which are fem ifia straight parallel walls 6 near their cc; teats, adjacent to the key-stud e", whtdh pfoeets upwardly from the bottom or bed plan: I oif'the casing, the said arms being then curved toward the front end of the casing'and have their extremities formed with hooks f, as shown in Fig. 2.

The curved spring 0 is entirely free, having no bearings except at the head d and at the hooks f. The lower portions of the arms of the spring are cut away and the upper half thickened at the center where the sides or walls 6' are adjacent to and parallel with eachother. This spring, in connection with the slotted and grooved projection around the key-hole on the inside of the top plate of the case, prevents any one from reaching the spring C from the outside of the ease except with a properly-constructed key. At all times except when the key is inserted and turned to release the hooks f from engagement with re cesscs n in the head or hasp D the parallel sides or walls 6 of the springC press against the slotted and grooved projection Qwhereby the arms of the spring 0 are held and the hooks f prevented from closing so as to 0bstruet the free entry of the head or liasp I) when it is desired to lock the pouch.

A strap, I), secured to the side of thepouch opposite to the casing I3 is designed to pass over and close the mouth of the pouch, and said strap has riveted or otherwise secured to its free end the metallic head or hasp D, having a pointed end and provided in its sides with recesses 01 for the reception of the hook portions f of the spring 0, as I will herein after disclose.

A stud, g, cast with the casing B, projects downward from the top of the case or box at a point between the key-hole and open end h of the casing, and said stud g has secured to it the rear ends of suitable springs, F, the free ends of which are curved outwardly and are designed to bear against the pointed end of ac the head or hasp D to eject said hasp through the open'end of the casing when the hooked ends of the curved springs are forced apart and out of engagement with the recesses or sockets in the opposite sides of the head or hasp.

The casing is preferably formed with a groove or guide, Z, in which may be secured a card or tag indicating the place of destination of the pouch, and said ease or box B is into the open end of the casing.

slotted and grooved projection surrounding the key-hole to protect said hole and insure the properworking of the key.

In operating my lock, it the pouch be open and it is desired to close and lock it, the free end of the strap D is passed over the mouth.

of the pouch and the head or hasp D thrust As the pointed end of the head or hasp enters the opening in the casing it strikes the curved faces of the hooks f and forces the arms of the spring (I apart to permit the passage of the head or hasp..

The point of the head or hasp after entering the casing passes between the free ends of the springs or buffers F and forces them apart. At the same timethehook portions of the spring 0 spring into the recesses or sockets n in the head or hasp and secure the lat ter, thereby automatically locking the pouch.

The springs 11, when the parts are inthe locked position shown in Fig. 2, exert a pressure against the pointed end of the head or hasp,and when the key is inserted and turned its arms engage the walls 6' of the spring 0 and force the hooked free ends of the spring apart and out of engagement with the head or hasp. The springs F then exert their power to automatically eject the said head or hasp through the open end of the casing, thereby unlocking the pouch.

By reason of the above construction I am enabled to provide a mail-pouch with an automatic locking mechanism which is permanently secured to the pouch. At the same time the operative parts of the lock are of such a simple nature that there is no liability of the lock being injured in transmission from place to place.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a mail-pouch having the strap-D, provided with a metallic pointed head having recesses formed in its sides, of the casing 13, permanently secured to the pouch and having an opening in one end, a curved spring secured at its center to the casing and having its ends formed with hooks for engaging the recessed sides of the metallic head, whereby the latter is secured, substantially as herein described.

2. The combination, with a mail-pouch havin g the strap D, provided with a recessed and pointed metallic head or hasp, of a casing having projecting pins for securing the easin g permanently to the pouch, a curved spring secured in the casing and provided with hooked ends adapted for automatic engagement with metallic head, and the springs F within the casin g bearing against the inserted head to automatically eject the same when the locking mechanism is released, substantially as herein described.

THEODORE XV, IVORY.

Witnesses:

E. STARBUCK, B. ZEVELY. 

